The Stratosphere Coaster

I was fortunate enough to spend New Year's Eve 1996 in Las Vegas with a bunch of old and new friends. We stayed in the Stratosphere hotel because ... well ... because I was stupid and my travel agent was inept. But that is another story.

The Stratosphere is the tallest building in Vegas, and there are two rides on the roof. One of them shoots you up several stories with a force of 4 G's, and then plummets you down. I went on that one with my friends Dave, Jill, and Laurel. The scariest part was the moments before it began. Then, after an ominous count down, we got shot up, and there was this terrifying combination of speed and ... well... speed, and then we were at the top. I distinctly remember my thoughts upon the 2 second pause at the top:

"Wow... That wasn't so bad, actually. Wait! The ride isn't over! We have to go dow---YAHHHHH!" and then the free-fall happened.

The picture you see below you was taken on the way up.

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